Today we start Advent, which means ‘coming’.  We look forward to three things:

- the coming of Jesus at Christmas –God in human form

- the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come (creed)

- the coming of Jesus to us, here and now, in the sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation (‘confession.’)

Make the most of Advent so that the twelve days of Christmas (yes, 12!) are a real season of joy. This poem - a prayer- is what it is all about:

Bright star-maker God, travel with us through Advent

Shine into our dark corners, lead us into ways of justice,

Warm us with joy and wonder, bring us to new birth.

Ruth Burgess

Many thanks to all who were involved in the Rock Choir concert, which raised £1,095 for our Maintenance and Refurbishment fund. Well done!  A great concert in a full church!

School application forms to me please by Sunday December 11^th at latest.  I will forward all forms to the schools.

Mass attendances last Sunday were 722. NEXT SUNDAY Second Collection for Maintenance & Refurbishment Fund.
Sunday 27/11/11	First Sunday of Advent 6pm – Johanna & Dennis Ashton RIP (J. Wederspoon) 9.15am – Joshua Canning RIP (G. Thompson) 11am – People of the Parish
Monday 28/11/11	Feria 9.30am – Deceased members of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL)
Tuesday 29/11/11	Feria 9.30am – Deceased members of Forde & Kelly Family (H & T Forde)
Wednesday 30/11/11	St Andrew, apostle 9.30am – Deceased relatives & friends of Roger and Ellen Wright (R & E Wright)
Thursday 1/12/11	Feria 9.30am – Peter Devlin and Family (E. Gibson)
Friday 2/12/11	Feria 9.30am – Patsy Burke RIP (E Gibson)
Sunday 4/12/11	Second Sunday of Advent 6pm – People of the Parish 9.15am – Jackie Gilmartin (Lynch Family) 11am – Mrs Gilmartin (Ardron Family)
Monday: Fund Raising Team – Meeting Room 8pm
Tuesday: Journey in Faith 7.30pm this week Choir rehearsal 8.30pm (NB time change)
Wednesday: Bereavement Support Group.  8pm in Meeting Room.
Thursday: Library Team.  8pm in Gallery Room
Saturday: First Communion Session. 4.45pm to 5.45pm
Next Sunday all readers renew their Ministry at Mass.
Monday 12^th Dec at 7pm – Penitential Service for Advent.  There will be visiting priests to hear confessions.  You are most welcome even if you do not make an individual confession.  I do hope we shall have a full church.  Parents please bring your children (yr 4 plus). It would be good if we all received this sacrament, as a community, before Christmas.
Duties on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  All those on rotas please sign up ASAP.  We must ‘cover all bases’, please do not leave this until the last moment – thank you.
Advent reading material.  NB My Day by Day for Infants and Juniors….also the papers…
There will be a collection for the Orpington Food Bank on 10/11th December.  This volunteer organisation supplies food to local families facing financial crisis.  Please take a flyer after Mass and bring in what you can in two weeks time.
Only Catholics may receive Holy Communion in accordance with the teaching of the church.  I do ask non-Catholics to respect this.  Non-Catholics are warmly invited to receive a blessing at communion time.
Catholics are required to be married in a Catholic ceremony for their marriage to be recognised by the church (unless a dispensation has been granted).  If there is no impediment this is a simple process known as convalidation.  There are many such couples in our congregation.  Please contact me urgently if you are in doubt.
Our Carol service will be on Sunday 18^th December at 4pm followed by mince pies etc.  This is for the whole parish and the special Christmas choir is working really hard.  Please put it in your diaries now!
Senior Citizens Lunch.  Sunday 11^th December after 11am Mass.  Please sign list in porch.
Many thanks to the parishioner who donated the cost of the new Altar Missal, for which we are most grateful.
It would be good to see many more people at Daily Mass (9.30am) sometime during Advent.  If you do not have to rush off to work, perhaps think about it?
Every blessing, Fr Bryan